Cutting and shaping machine



H. E. MoRToN 4 2,239,927

'CUTTING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet v1 April29, 1941.

nventor llllvL 1111 11H1.. o

April 29, 1941.

Filed Jan. 3, 19159 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 wm w April 29, 1941.

H. E. MoRToN CUTTINGv AND` SHAPING MACHINE Filed Jan 3, 1939 5'Sheets-Sheet 3 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 H. E. MoR'roN CUTTING AND SHAPINGMACHINE Filed Jan. s, 1959 April 2.9

Den

April 29, 1941. H. E. MoRToN CUTTING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 3,1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 (Ittomens forl cutting4 material and shapingvmaterial',v and more particularlyto machines for' shaping. the

front and/orrear surfacesof propeller blades. I j [One of the objectsofthepresentinvention is toprovide a new and 4improved machiney which willefilciently'cut `away material and shape :an-f established desiredsurface vof. varylngrrateol.'

progressive curvature.

Another object v' of the invention is to' provide l a machine of theabove mentioned characterv which will accurately and quickly out andIshape the front and/or back sides of a propellermblade. Other objects ofthe invention .will become apparent from the following descriptiontakenin ccnnection .with the accompanying drawings in Wl.lchy Figure 1 is atop plan view ofmy machine with parts broken away and in sectionto showcertain details of construction;

chine: 1 v l Fig. 3 is an end view of the machine; y Fig. 3a is a viewsimilar to Fig. 3 showing certain parts in section and taken along,theline and in the direction of the arrows 3ft-.3a of Fig.2: y p N,

Fig. 4 is ar view shown in sectio *ofthe Inachine, taken along the lineand in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view shown in section cina.''speed differential mechanismtaken along the linevand f in the direction of the arrows '5 5 of Fig.2;

Fig. 6 is a view shown in section of a. cutting tool and associateddriving mechanism therefor, 3 taken along the line and in the directionof the rotationof the blade and showing thecutting tool at the start ofthe cutting strokes Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the cam and controlmechanism actuated thereby to control operation of the cutting tool; f

Fig. 13 is a detail view shown in section ofgears and associatedparts-employed in the mechanism `:4

shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 shows aportion of` av propeller'blade and indicates how cuts aretaken from and across the biadebythe cutting m01; Y n v v Fig. 15l isaiview 'of the propeller blade repre- Ap new@ regains, '19st,seriaiiolztssf y. '-fj.9.o1a1ms.-` (orso-13.3) 'This inventionrelates`generally to,` machines f Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of 4thema#vsented @staken 'aiongfthe' une A41?, jofjFlc. -14 :gid showing the pathof travel of the cutting;

1 ,-Fl'g. 16 isa view-showingthe development-of o neofv a-nuniberoithecontrolling'camsdesigned y in accordance withthe predeterminedcurvature' v of theblade'along theline A-B;

Fig;` 1711s :a detailviewto show relationship between thel'propellerblade, itssupport and the 1 q cuttingtooLand` f j Fig."18 Vis-anotherVdetail View of the camv and v its follower.

Refemngi now inV detaut thsc'rawigs. Athe machineincludes an elongatedbase l on 'andi adjacent one lend of which ismounte'd av-support-Q' ing.hed.I 2 and on'l and adjacent the other end of.

3. .Preferablsgl the supporting bed 2 is moi/'ablyladjustableflongitudinally ofthe baserortowam* I and Vawayvfrom thecolumn 3 and to this'end, the `base I, Fig. 4,-may,be provided withguide'l rails i to beslidably received in a guideway prosuch as apropeller `9, to'beshaped and the table y81s circular and is provided onits periphery with x gear teeth which mesh with a.v driving Worm gear Ymay screwthread into Fthe table il to secure the propeller tightlythereto.

A vertically movable support or carrier l5 is mounted on the uprightcolumn 2 and carries a f hollow, elongated ram I6 which extends overAand longitudinally, of the base l, the ram I6 l2.' 'Ihe carrier i5 isprovided with oppositely disposed, spacedslideways I8 in which outturnedguides ornangesl on the vcolumn 3 are re- Y ceived, 'and integral withthe -carrierl an ex `tended portion. orVl ,ange' 20I projects into thevcolumn 3 and is provided with an aperture-to receiveaverticarshaft2|,Fig. 3. "A motor 22 ldrivesa shaft 23 vwhich through bevel gears 24` lrotates the vvertical yshaItZl. ySupported on the i carrier flangel,afhevelv gear 25 is` splined or meshes with a bevel gear 21 on oneend'cf a horizontal shaft 28 which is journaled for rotation in a. borein the vertically movable carrier I5. On the other end of the shaft 2|,a bevel gear 30 meshes with a bevel gear 3| on the lower end of avertical shaft 32 which is parallel with other vertical shafts 33 and34. On the upper ends of the shafts 32, 33 and 34 a train of meshedgears 35 is provided and on the shaft 34 a pinion gear 36 meshes with agear rack 3l provided on the ram I6. Operation of the motor 22 will,through the various shafts and gears, move the tool carrying ram I6longitudinally thereof whereby to position the cutting tool I1 withrespect to the work or propeller. This power means for positioning thetool I1 is pro-- vided for positioning the tool only when the tool is tobe moved a substantial distance. For slight movements or adjustments ofthe cutting tool, a. manually operable handle 38 is provided to rotate,the shaft 23. The handle 38 is connected to a link 39 which carries aratchet 40 cooperable with a gear 4| which is keyed to shaft 23, theposition of the ratchet being reversible so as to be able to rotate theshaft 23 in either direction. The handle 38 is mounted on a shaft 42which extends transversely of the base I and on the shaft 42 a secondhandle 43 may be provided for convenience so that an operator may employthe handle which is closest to him. In the operation of this machine,the cutting tool I1 makes a cut across a propeller blade or other workalong or following a predetermined datum line of irregular orprogressively curving surface and then by means of one of the handlesthe ram is moved to position the tool carried thereby for the nextcutting stroke, or to follow the next established datum line.

In the end of the hollow ram I6, adjacent the cutting tool l1, isscrewthreaded a tubular open ended bearing member 45, Fig. 6, whichrotatably receives a reduced tubular portion 46 of a housing 41, androtatably mounted in the tubular portion 46, a shaft 48 is provided witha recess opening out of its inner end and adapted to receive a squareshank 49 of a drive shaft 50 which extends through and longitudinally ofthe hollow ram I6. An outer end portion of the shaft 48 projects intothe housing 41 wherein a bevel gear I is keyed thereto and meshes with asimilar bevel gear 52 which is keyed to the upper end of a shaft 53having its axis of rotation transverse to the axis of rotation ofaligned shafts 46 and 50, the cutting tool I1 being rigidly secured tothe lowei` end of the shaft 53. Surrounding the housing 41 and rigidlysecured thereto, adjacent the bearing member 45, a gear wheel 55 isrotatable by a manually operable worm gear 56 providing for radialadjustment of the tool relative to the ram. As is clearly shown in Fig.3a and in Fig. 1'1, the tool I1 is adjusted such that a point on thecircular cutting edge thereof is substantially in vertical alignmentwith the axis of rotation of the hub II or of the rotatable supportingtable therefor. Mounted on the ram I6 on the opposite side of the column3 from the cutting tool I1. an electric motor 51 through switch gears 58drives or rotates the shaft 50 to drive or rotate the cutting tool I1.

The ram I6 is mounted on the vertically movable carrier I5 foradjustment relative thereto to provide for lowering and/or raising ofthe tool I1 relative to the work, and to this end the carrier isprovided with a bore or circular recess 60, Fig. 2, to receive acircular bearing member 6|, the member 6| being held in adjustedposition by screws 62 'screwthreaded into the carrier I5 and extendingthrough slots provided in the bearing member 6I. The bear member 6| isprovided with a segmental gear 63 with which a manually operable wormgear 64 meshes and by rotation of which the ram I6 may be pivoted toraise and/or lower the cutting tool I1 with respect to the work orpropeller blades.

Preferably, the ram carrier I5 is moved vertically by a vertical screwor threaded shaft 65, Fig. 3, which extends upward within the hollowcolumn 3, the carrier being provided with a boss or integral nut 66projecting into the hollow column and having a threaded aperture or boreto receive the screw. The lower end of the vertical shaft 65 projectsslightly below the top wail of the base I, and secured to the shaft 65within the hollow base is a bevel gear 6l which meshes with a similarbevel gear 68 secured on a horizontal shaft 10 which extendstransversely of the base.

The shaft 10 and therefor the carrier raising and/or lowering screw 65are operated or driven indirectly by an electric motor lI3 through aspeed differential mechanism and a speed change mechanism, respectivelydesignated in general by the numerals 1| and 12. The motor 13 drives ashaft 'I4 secured to which a gear 'I5 meshes with a gear 16, secured toa shaft 11. A shaft 18, one end of which may be coupled to the shaft 'Ilby a manually operable clutch 19, is provided and the other end of theshaft 18 is coupled to a stub shaft of the speed differential mechanismli. The shaft 80, Fig. 5, extends into a housing 8| wherein a gear 82 iskeyed to the shaft 80 and meshes with a gear 83 keyed on a shaft 84which is parallel with the shaft 80 and drives the differential lithrough the speed change mechanism 12.

The differential 1|, Fig. 5, may be of any suitable type and, inthepresent instance, includes a drive shaft 85 and a driven shaft 86, thedriven shaft 86 being coupled to a stub shaft 81, Fig. l,

keyed to which a gear 88 meshes with an idler gear 88a which in turnmeshes with a gear 89 keyed to shaft 10, Fig. 2. Surrounding and rotatably mounted on the differential shafts 85, 88.

a drum 90 is provided with an external sprocket f 9| for a drive chain92 which is driven by a sprocket 93, keyed to the speed change mechanismshaft 84. On the differential drive shaft 85 is the usual, so-called sungear 95 around and in mesh with which is a plurality of planetary gears96 which also mesh as at 98 with an inl ternal gear 91 provided on thedrum 90.

The speed change mechanism 12, like the speed differential mechanism 1imay be of any suitable type and, in the present instance, includes apair of cones |00 mounted on the shaft 84, driving through a continuousbelt I 0|, a pair of cones |02 mounted on the differential drive shaft85, Fig. l. Each pair of the cones I 00 and |02 is splined on itsrespective shaft such that the cones of each pair may be slidablyadjusted longitudinally of the shafts, toward and/or away from eachother to change the speed ratio. A pair of spaced levers |04 may beprovided for slidably adjusting the cones of each pair and arranged topivot such that the cones of one pair will be -moved toward each other`while the cones of the other pair will be moved away from each other.The levers |04 extend longitudinally and on opposite sides of the pairsof cones and may be pivmechanisrn12 is operated bycontrol mechanism,

designated in general by the numeral |01, which is hereinafterdescribedin detail. The motor 13 also drives or rotates the work supporttable 9, the shaft 14 having thereon a bevel gear |06 meshing with abevel gear |09 on a shaft ||0 which drives the worm gear I0 through atrain of gears. designated in general by the numeral On the shaft I I0,a gear i|2 meshes with one gear of a gear train ||3 which is arranged todrive or rotate the work table adjustment screw 1 and a manuallyoperable clutch |I4 is provided to disconnect the gear H2 from the geartrain H3. The work supporting table 9 is rotated by the motor 13 at aconstant rate of speed, whereas, the motor 13 drives shaft 10 whichmoves the tool carrying ram vertically by rotating vertical screw 65, atvarying speeds controlled by the change speed control mechanism |01 inaccordance with the contour of the propeller blade along a given datumline.

Referring now to the control mechanism |01, a standard or base ||5 isprovided and supports a hollow upright column I I6 which is providedwith guideways ||1, Fig. 1, to slidably receive and guide a verticallymovable carrier member ||8 which comprises a front section I |9 and arear section |20. The carrier section is provided with an abutment orpin |2|, Fig. 2, on which the other section or section ||9 is adapted tcseat so that the sections may move vertically together which is the caseduring the cutting operation of the tool I1. A pair of vertically spacedbosses |22, integral of the rear carrier section |20 projects through avertically elongated aperture or slot into the hollow column I I6wherein the bosses are provided with aligning threaded apertures toreceive a vertical screw |24 which is operable to move the carriervertically, The screw |24 is rotated by the motor 13 off ofthe variablespeed shaft 10. On the shaft 10 a bevel gear |25 meshes with a similarbevel gear |26 on a shaft |21 on which a relatively small gear |28meshes with a relatively large gear |29 on a shaft |30 which is locatedbelow and extends parallel with shaft |21. On shaft |21, a bevel gear|3| meshes with a bevel gear |32 on the vertical screw |24, adjacent thelower end thereof. Thus it will be seen, that from the variable speedshaft 10, the main tool carrier I5 and the carrier ||8 are moved vertically in a predetermined synchronized relation. Or in other wordsthere is selected a ratio between the distance that the main carriermoves and the distance that carrier ||6 moves, this ratio beingdetermined by the various gears.

The carrier ||0 is provided to carry, one at a time, cams or templates,one of which is shown at |34, mounted on the carrier for verticalmovement therewith. A pair of horizontally spaced bosses |35, |36,integral with the front carrier section |9 have aligning bores toreceive and support-a shaft |31 on one end of which the cam |34 ismounted, the cam, Fig, 1, preferably being provided with plates |38,|39, on opposite sides thereof. In the present instance, the cam or cams|34 are provided each with a locating aperture to align with yaperturesin the plates |38, |39 and receive a dowel pin |4|. The inner plate |30is preferably keyed to the shaft |31, as at |42,

and an outer end portion of the shaft |31 may be reduced and threaded toreceive a nut |43 for rigidly securing the plates and cam together andto the shaft |31. v

Extending from and integral with the carrier boss |31, an arm |44carries a worm gear |45 in mesh with a worm wheel |45 which may be keyedor be otherwise secured onto the shaft |31 adjacent the end thereofopposite the end on which the cam |34 is secured. The worm gear |45 isprovided on a vertical shaft |46 which extends through an opening in thearm |44, the shaft |46 having longitudinaly splines |41 cooperable withinternal splines in the arm opening to permit vertical movement of theshaft and worm gear with the cam or template carrier I8. On the lowerend of the shaft |46a bevel gear |41 meshes with a. similar bevel gear|40 on a horizontal shaft |49 on which a second gear |50 meshes with agear |5| on a shaft |52 which extends parallel with horizontal shaft |49which is coupled to the table driving shaft |0z1rl by a manuallyoperable clutch |53. Thus, it will be seenthat from motor driven shaft14, both the work table 9 and the cam or `template. |34 are arranged tobe rotated at constant speed, by the motor 13.

Mounted on the base ||5, a reversible electric motor is adapted to driveor rotate a shaft |56 to actuate the speed change mechanism 12,operation of the motor |55 being controlled by switch mechanismdesignated in general by the numeral |51, see Fig. 12. Keyed orotherwise secured to the shaft |56 for rotation therewith, a bevel gear|58 meshes with and drives a similar bevel gear |60 on a shaft |6| whichis connected |04. One end portion of the screw or shaft |63 is providedwith a right hand thread for a correspondingly threaded collar |64 towhich one end of one of the levers |04 is pivoted and the other end ofthe screw |63 is provided with a left hand thread for an internallythreaded collar |64a to which the other lever end |65 is pivotallyconnected. Upon rotation of the screw |63 in one direction the speedchange device levers |04 are operated whereby to increase the speed ofshaft 10 thereby tending to raise the cutting tool I1 and conversely,upon rotation of the screw |63 in the opposite direction the speedchange drive is actuated to decrease the speed of shaft 10 to lower thecutting tool |1 with respect to the work.

In order to insure that the screw |63 will stop rotating substantiallyimmediately upon cutting out of the motor |55, a magnetically operatedclutch, designated in general by the numeral |66, is provided forcoupling and/or uncoupling the motor shaft and shaft |56, the clutchbeing controlled by the switch mechanism |51. From the magnetic clutch|66, which may be of any of the well known types, lead wires |61 lead toa terminal box |68 at which lead wires |69 from the motor |55 alsoterminate.

As previously mentioned the carrier ||8 comprises a front section ||9and a rear section |20 which normally or during operation of the machinemove vertically together but are also movable relative to each other.`The front section, Fig. 2, is movable relative to the rear section sothat after a cutting stroke of the tool |1, the tool may be raised forreturn to its starting position. To this end, a cam ||8a may be providedto raise the front carrier section ||9 and may be operated manually by ahand lever IIBb. Itals-` ing of the carrier section ||9 of courseraisesA the main cam |34 which as will later more clearly be seen raisesthe tool I1 a corresponding distance above the work or propeller blade.

The cam |34 is adapted to actuate a follower member |10, preferably aroller which is rotatably mounted on the upper end of a reciprocal linkor push rod |1I, the rod I1| being vertically, reciprocally guided in anopening in an extended wall portion |12 of the column ||8. At its lowerend, the push rod |1I is pivotally connected to one end of a' link |13of which the other end is pivoted to a lever |14 adjacent the free endthereof. One end of a helical coil spring |15 is connected to the freeend of the lever |14 and the other end of the spring is anchored to thecolumn extension wall |12, the spring being under tension and acting tohold the follower |10 in contact with the cam surface of the cam ortemplate |34.4 The other end of the lever |14 is keyed, as at |16, Fig.13, to one end of a shaft |11 which is rotatably supported in bearingsprovided in spaced bosses |18, |19 which are integral with and dependfrom the column base ||5.

Mounted on the shaft |11 between the bosses |18 and I 19, a pair ofspaced bevel gears |80, |8I mesh with a third bevel gear |82 which issuspended from the shaft |11 by a supporting member |83 which isrotatably mounted on the shaft between gears I 80. I8| to permit thegear |83 to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The gear I8Iis loosely mounted on the shaft |11 and is provided with a reducedportion |85 to the outer end of which is keyed one or the lower end of alever |86. To the upper end of the lever |86 is pivotally connected, oneend of a link or arm |81, the other end of which arm is pivotallyconnected to a follower |88 in the form of a block having therethrough athreaded bore to receive the threaded portion |90 of the shaft |56 whichis driven or rotated by the electric motor |55. When the shaft |56 isnot being rotated, it will be seen that the bevel gear I8I will belocked against rotation.

The intermediate gear |82 is freely rotatable on a pin I 92, the upperend of which is connected to the supporting member |83, the pin |92having an upwardly facing shoulder I 93 on which the gear |82 seats. Atits lower end, the pin |92 is bifurcated to receive one end of a link|95 which is pivoted to the pin |92 by a pivot pin |96. The other end ofthe link |95 is pivotally connected to a rod |91 which is mounted forendwise sliding movement in bores provided in spaced uprights |98 whichare integral with a base I 99. Mounted on the base |99 is a pair ofspaced controls or switches 200 and which are biased to normally openthe circuits of the motor |55 and the magnetically operated clutch |66.These switches 200, 20| may be of any well known suitable type and inthe present illustration have upwardly directed opening stems 202 and203 respectively. Mounted on and secured to the slidable or reciprocalrod |91 is a pair of spaced, conical-shaped actuators 204, 205 adaptedto respectively aotuate the switches 200 and 20|, The switches 200 and20| are respectively connected by lead wires 206 and 201 to the terminalbox |68 to which main lead Wires 203 connect.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 14, there is shown in part oneof the propeller blades to be cut and shaped to substantially thedesired final shape. The number of necessary outs to be made by the toolI1 is determined and these cuts are represented in Fig. 14 by theradially spaced dot and dash lines 2I0 which are arcs of circles havinga common center which is the center of the propeller hub II or center ofrotation of the supporting table 9. For each of the cuts taken acrossthe blade, represented by the dot and dash lines 2|0 a separate cam isdesigned. one of which is shown and described and is designated by thenumeral |34, as previously mentioned. To develop the cam I 34, apredetermined number of lines 2I| equally and radially spaced withrespect to the center of the hub II as shown in Fig. 14 and a likenumber of radial and corresponding lines 2I|a, as shown in Fig. 16 aredrawn to develop the cam. Fig- 16 is developed in accordance with thedatum or line A, B and in Fig. 15 is shown the corresponding desiredestablished blade curvature along the line A, B. With some convenientbase line such as the line X-X, Fig. 15, which corresponds to the dotand dash circle of Fig. 16, it will be seen that the points to I0 onopposite sides of the zero point may be transferred to the camdevelopment of Fig. 16 to determine the proper curvature of the camsurface. Line Y-Y represents the low point of the cam orl startingposition of the cutting tool I1. The points along the curvature of theblade or line A, B, Fig. 15, have been numbered from the intermediatezero point because approaching 4the zero point, the rate of rise of thetool I1 increases while beyond the zero point the rate of rise of thetool I1 decreases. In Figs. 8, 9, 10, and all are shown sections of theblade I2 taken along different lines from the center of the blade hubII, and for each section, a separate cam is developed.

Operation The various devices, of course, have related or correspondingstarting positions to which they are returned after a cut has been takenor in which they are set at the start of a cutting operation. Forexample, the table is rotated to position one of the blades in anestablished or predetermined position which may be conveniently found ordetermined by the use of any suitable scale or indicator. Also, the cam|34 is rotated to a position corresponding to the position of thesupport or table 9 with the follower on the low point of the cam asshown in Fig. 16. With the parts and devices in their properly relatedstarting positions, the main drive motor 13 is started and as previouslymentioned, the motor 13` rotates the work supporting table 9 at aconstant rate of speed through driving connections including shafts 14,IIO and I0a. Also, the motor 13 drives or rotates shaft 10 to raise thecarrier ram I6 to raise the cutting tool I1, shaft 10 being driventhrough the speed change mechanism 12 and the speed diiferentialmechanism 1| at a variable speed corresponding to the establishedcurvature of a datum or cut line. In addition, the motor 13 through itsdriving of shaft |21 raises the cam carrier IIB which moves verticallyin a definite ratio or re*- lation to movement of the main carrier I5 tothe tool I1 carried thereby. The electric motor |55 under the control ofthe switch mechanism |51 rotates shaft |56 to actuate the speed changemechanism operating arms |04, the switch mechanism |51 being actuated bythe cam |34 and also by the electric motor I 55. Thus, on starting ofmotors 13 and |55 and the tool drive motor 51, the work or propellersupport rotates at constant speed toward and against the rotating tool,the tool being raised as the work sup- The cam |34 ofport rotates. Thecam |34 is provided with a dwell from which the cam has a sudden rise tolift the tool |1 up to the starting point of the cutting operation, asshown in Figs. 15 and 16.V

Assume that the reversible control motor |55, Fig. 12, is stopped. Underthis condition, the worm traveler |88 locks gear 8| against movementwith the result that as the cam |34 rotates and depresses thecamfollower |10, lever |14 is pivoted downwardly which rolls gear |82 in adirection such that the switch rod |91 is moved in a direction to closeswitch 20|. Closing of switch 20| energizes and starts the motor |55 andalso energizes the magnetically operated clutch |66 which then acts tocouple the motor shaft to the shaft |58. Rotation of the shaft |50 inone direction imparts rotation to transverse shaft IBI, actuating theoperating levers |04 of the speed change mechanism 12 to increase therate of rise of the cutting tool |1 with corresponding increase in rateof rise of the cam |34. Operation of the motor |55, rotatingl screw |90causes the traveler |88 to move and through lever |86, rotates gear |8|which causes gear |82 to move bodily in a direction to shift or returnthe switch rod |91 to permit switch 20| to open. Thus, it will be seenthat as the cam |34 rotates, it also rises bodily and when the rate ofthe cam rise is such that the cam will depress the follower |10 andclose switch 20|, the motor |55 will be started to increase the rate ofrise of the cam which will correspondingly decrease the rate of rise ofthe cutting tool I1. As soon as the motor |55 starts to operate, thespeed change mechanism is adjusted by levers |04 to increase the speedand also, the lever |85 is actuated to open switch 20| and stop themotor |55. The motor |55 will only be stopped for a short time intervalduring which the cam |34 will rise at a constant rate and during whichthe cutting tool |1 will cut along a line tangent to the curvature ofthe datum line. When the motor is again started, the rate of rise of thecam and tool is again changed. Traversing the blade, the cutting tool |1will make a series of cuts along lines tangent` to the curvature of thedatum line, the cuts being so close together that the surface will be asubstantially smooth curve. It will be seen that every time the motor|55 is started, the rate of rise of the cam and tool is changed wherebythe desired progressively curving surface is cut and shaped.

The switch 200 only comes into function when the curve is one in whichthe variable rate of change is increasing instead of decreasing. Forexample, switch 200 would be in control if the tool started from pointB, Fig. 15, and worked downard for under this condition it will be seenthat the variable rate of change is increasing from B to A. After theblade has been cut along one datum line, the machine is reversed andanother cam, corresponding to the next datum line along which the bladeis to be cut, is mounted on the machine. Thus, by taking a series ofcuts across the blade the excess material is removed and the blade isshaped to substantially its nal form.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a movable supporting memberfor material to be cut and shaped along a curved datum line, a toolmember to cut the material and movable relative thereto, one of saidmembers being movable at a constant rate of speed and the other of saidf said rate changing members being movable at a variable rate of speed,means to move said members, means to change the rate of movement of saidother member, means controlling said rate changing means, rotatable andbodily movable cam means operable in response to change in rate ofmovement of said other member to actuate said controlling means, andmeans operable in response to means to actuate said controlling means.

2. In a machine of the character described, a movable supporting memberfor material to be cut and shaped along a predetermined curved datumline, a tool member to cut the material, one of said members beingmovable relative to the other of said members during the cuttingoperation, means to vary the rate of movement of said one member, meansoperable to control said rate varying means, rotatable and rectilinearlymovable cam means operable to actuate said control means, and anoperating member operated by said cam means and operatively connected tosaid control means.

3. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable supportingmember for material to be cut and shaped along a predetermined curveddatum line, means to rotate said supporting member, a rotatable tool forcutting the material, said tool being bodily movable away from thematerial, means to move said tool away from the material, means to varythe rate of movement of said tool away from the material, means tocontrol said rate varying means, means operable in response to rotationof said supporting member and material to actuate said control means inaccordance with .the curvature of the datum line, and means operable bysaid lastnarned means to actuate said control means.

4. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable support formaterial to be cut along a curved datum line, means to rotate saidsupport at a substantially constant rate of speed, a tool for cuttingthe material, means for driving said tool, said tool being bodilyvertically movable, means to move said tool vertically, change speedmechanism to vary the rate of movement of said tool, speed diierentialmechanism operatively connecting said change speed mechanism and saidtool moving means, control means for said speed change mechanism, meansto actuate said speed change mechanism, cam means synchronized withmovement .of said tool and operable to actuate said control means, andmeans operable in response to operation of said speed change actuatingmeans to actuate said control means.

5. In a machine for cutting excess material from a propeller-blade andshaping a progressively curving surface thereon along a datum line, arotatable support for the propeller blade, means to rotate said supportand blade at a substantially constant rate of speed, a rotatable cuttingtool, means to rotate said tool, said tool being bodily movable relativeto the blade, speed change mechanism for changing the rate of movementof said tool, speed diierential mechanism operatively connecting saidspeed change mechanism and said tool, a motor to actuate said changespeed mechanism to vary the rate of movement of said tool relative tothe blade, switch means controlling said motor, a cam having a camsurface substantially corresponding to the curvature of the datum lineand operable to actuate said switch means, and means responsive tooperation of said motor to actuate said switch means.

6. In a machine for cutting excess material from a propeller` blade andshaping a prog-ressively curving surface thereon along a datum line, arotatable support for the propeller blade, means to rotate said supportand blade at a substantially constant rate of speed, a rotatable cuttingtool, means to rotate said tool, said tool being bodily movable relativeto the blade, speed change mechanism for changing the rate of movementof said tool, speed differential mechanism operatively connecting saidspeed change mechanism and said tool, a. motor to actuate said changespeed mechanism to vary the rate of movement of said tool relative tothe blade, switch means controlling said motor, a cam having a camsurface substantially corresponding to the curvature of the datum. lineand operable to actuate said switchl means, means responsive tooperation of said motor to actuate said switch means, and electricallyoperated clutch means operatively connecting said speed change mechanismand said motor and controlled by said switch means.

7. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable support, apropeller blade mounted on said support for rotation therewith, drivemeans to rotate said support at constant speed, a cutting tool forcutting across said blade along a progressively curving datum line, asubstantially vertically movable support for said tool, means to elevatesaid support and tool and driven by said drive means, speed changemechanism operatively connected to said drive means, speed differentialmechanism operatively connecting said speed change mechanism and saidmovable support, a second substantially vertically movable supportoperatively connected to said speed differential mechanism, a. camcarried by said second-named support and rotated by said constant speeddrive means, said cam having a cam surface substantially correspondingin contour to the curvature of the datum line, a cam follower actuatedby said cam, operating means for said speed change mechanism, means toactuate said operating means, control means for said actuatlng means andoperatively connected to said. cam follower, and means operable by saidactuating means to actuate Asaid control means.

8. In a machine of the character described, a movable supporting memberfor material 'to be ycut along a predetermined progressively curvingdatum line, a rotatable tool to cut the material and bodily movablelrelative to the material, a frame, a vertically movable carrier guidedon said frame and carrying said tool, a second frame, a verticallymovable carrier guided on said second-named frame, a cam carried by saidsecond-named carrier, power means for moving said first-named carrierand said second-named carrier, speed change mechanism driven by saidpower means, speed differential mechanism operatively connecting saidspeed change mechanism to said first and second-named carriers. and

means for controlling said speed change mechy anism and controlled bysaid cam.

9. In a machine of the character described, a movable supporting memberfor material to be cut along a predetermined progressively curving datumline, a rotatable tool to cut the material and bodily movable relativeto the material, a frame, a. vertically movable carrier guided on saidframe and carrying said tool, a second frame, a vertically movablecarrier guided on said second-named frame, a cam carried by saidsecondnamed carrier, power means for moving said first-named carrier andsaid second-named carrier, speed change mechanism driven by said powermeans, speed differential mechanism operatively connecting said speedchange mechanism to said first and second-named carriers, means forcontrolling said speed change mechanism and controlled by said cam, anelectric motor operable to control said speed change mechanism, switchmeans controlling said motor and actuated by said cam, and meansactuated by said motor for controlling said switch means.

HENRY EARL MORTON.

